A tropical wave crossed Belize and southeast Mexico during mid-August as its convective organizationslowly increased. The system moved offshore southern Mexico south of Acapulco on August 15th.As it moved west-northwest, it became well-enough organized to be considered a tropical depressionon the morning of the 16th. By afternoon, the system increased to tropical storm strength. As an uppertrough deepened west of Mexico, Howard turned more northwesterly, moving south and southwest ofBaja California. Howard weakened as it moved into cooler waters, and dissipated as a tropical cycloneon the 18th. Below are its associated rainfall graphics, using data provided by the Comision Nacionaldel Agua, the parent agency of Mexico's national weather service. The heaviest rainfall occurred insoutheast Mexico before the system became a tropical cyclone.